Fund-a-Farmer Grants and the Gopher Tortoise

Jan 11

By Samantha Gasson, Humane Farming Program Manager

Over here in Humane Farming we call January “Grant” month, arguably it could also be called “Mentorship” month, but we reserve that for February.

*Photo credit Ian Bennett; "Bennett Family Farms cows enjoying cool refreshing clean water thanks to their Fund-a-Farmer grant"*

We’re busy accepting/preparing applications for the review committee and getting ready for the influx of applications on procrastination day which is January 15th (application closing day) this year.

As much fun as accepting new applications is, my absolute favorite part of the grant process is reading the final reports. It is wonderful to hear firsthand how much our grants mean to humane farmers across the country, the benefits to their livestock, and those critters in their environment including the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus).

Why the gopher tortoise you might ask? I had never heard of this medium-sized tortoise, who provides habitat for around 360 other species of wildlife through its burrowing tendencies, before last week but, thanks to Ian Bennett with Bennett Family Farms there will be more of them around in Georgia’s cypress swampland to enjoy.

What is so wonderful about Fund-a-Farmer grants is that they don’t just benefit the farmers and their livestock/poultry, they often improve the land and the wildlife that depends on it.

In 2023 Bennett Family Farms in Adel, Georgia received $3,000 to add 8 additional water sources onto a new water line to give livestock better access to fresh, clean water and expand a regenerative grazing system but that’s just the one sentence soundbite, their project did so much more!

Ian recently shared more about his family’s long view on how they can leave the land better than they found it:

"Part of our farm is a small area of cypress wetlands. Historically, this was used as a watering source for animals and as result, the area was degraded over time. Starting in the early 2000s, my family began restoring this area as a part of a comprehensive, long-term management plan. This project specifically allowed us to redesign how we move cattle around this area and gave us the ability to provide enough alternative water sources for the livestock that they no longer need to drink from these wetlands.

Our farm is close to a river and the northern boundary of Reed Bingham State Park. While the state park designates habitats for animals like Fox Squirrels, Bobwhite quail, and Gopher tortoises, the recovering populations of these animals have extended beyond park borders. My family’s farm hosts a diverse ecosystem that supports wildlife in addition to my family and our animals. They often travel through our farm, spending seasons in the wetlands, and occasionally establish permanent residences." ~Ian Bennett

Not only do FACT’s Fund-a-Farmer grants improve the lives of food animals, but they also improve the lives of the wildlife around them. What’s not to love about this program!

Congratulations to all the farmers out there trying to improve the land they farm, making sure local wildlife (even if it isn’t the gopher tortoise) has a home.